Recall 20V056 covers 106,857 1998-2001 Audi A8, A4, Tt, and A6 vehicles for defective NADI driver air bag inflators. Repair will be free at any franchised Audi dealer once available.
Audi is recalling 106,857 1998-2001 A8, A4, Tt, and A6 vehicles under recall 20V056 because certain NADI driver air bag inflators can absorb moisture and deploy improperly in a crash. If the air bag does not protect the occupant as designed, the risk of serious injury or death increases; the Audi dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The driver-side frontal air bag inflator is the small metal device inside the steering-wheel air bag module that creates gas during a crash. In the 1998-2001 Audi A8, A4, Tt, and A6 vehicles covered by this recall, that inflator is a NADI unit. Its job is to fill the driver air bag fast enough for the bag to cushion the driver.
Audi reported that a manufacturing issue allows these inflators to absorb moisture over time. Moisture changes how the inflator performs when it is commanded to deploy. Testing found a risk of no deployment or slow deployment, which means the driver air bag does not inflate as intended in a crash.
There is no warning sign before failure. The air bag warning light is not described as an early signal for this defect, so the vehicle can look and drive normally until a crash demands the air bag.
Who's affected?
Spans 4 Audi nameplates across the 1998-2001 model years, all involving the driver's front air bag inflator module.
| 1999 Audi A8 | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 1999 Audi A4 | front air bag |
| 2001 Audi Tt | front air bag |
| 2000 Audi Tt | front air bag |
| 2000 Audi A4 | front air bag |
| 1998 Audi A6 | front air bag |
| 1999 Audi A6 | front air bag |
| 2000 Audi A6 | front air bag |
| Units affected | 106,857 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash that deploys the air bag, the driver frontal air bag inflator can fail to protect the occupant as intended, increasing the risk of serious injury or death. There is no warning sign before a crash, so confirm your VIN and arrange the recall repair when parts are ready. Repair will be free at any franchised Audi dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 1998-2001 Audi A8, A4, Tt, or A6 is included in this recall.
- Contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834 to ask whether the free driver air bag inflator replacement has opened for your VIN.
- Ask a franchised Audi dealer about recall number 20V056 before making a repair appointment.
- Keep the recall notice with your service records if Audi mailed one.
- Schedule the driver frontal air bag inflator replacement once Audi confirms the repair is open; the repair replaces the NADI inflator that can deploy improperly in a crash.
What happens at the repair
Once parts are available, an Audi technician will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator. The final dealer repair will be free once it opens, with parts and labor covered under the recall. Until then, an Audi dealer can explain parts timing for included VINs and note the vehicle for service when appointments open. Audi is not offering reimbursement for this campaign, so prior out of pocket inflator repairs are not covered through a separate recall reimbursement program.
| Reimbursement | No separate reimbursement |
|---|
Timeline
| January 31, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| September 13, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| September 13, 2021 | Dealer notification ended |
| September 21, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
| September 21, 2021 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| September 21, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V056?
Recall 20V056 covers 106,857 1998-2001 Audi A8, A4, Tt, and A6 vehicles with driver frontal air bag inflators that can absorb moisture and deploy improperly in a crash. Audi dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator for free once the repair is open for the VIN.
What should I do if my 1998-2001 Audi A8, A4, Tt, or A6 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Audi is included in recall 20V056. If it is, contact a franchised Audi dealer and ask whether the driver air bag inflator replacement is available for your VIN. Reference recall number 20V056 and Audi recall number 69BT when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Audi will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator free of charge at a franchised Audi dealer once the remedy is open for your VIN.
What is the safety risk in recall 20V056?
The safety risk is reduced driver air bag protection in a crash. If the driver frontal air bag inflator deploys improperly during a crash that requires air bag deployment, the air bag can fail to properly protect the occupant, increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
What if I bought my Audi A8, A4, Tt, or A6 used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm inclusion, then call a franchised Audi dealer with recall number 20V056. Audi customer service is also listed at 1-800-253-2834 for this recall.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V056000 |
|---|---|
| Audi customer service | 1-800-253-2834 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V056 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V056000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 24, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →